Claire Bickle reports on how she’s been preparing her Brisbane home for the onslaught of TC Alfred.
As Category 2 Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches the Queensland coast, it’s been all hands-on deck around SEQ. People are preparing for gale force winds, which will lead to loss of power for days, torrential rain and sea storm surges, which will in turn cause extensive flooding, especially for those in low-lying areas.
It’s the first cyclone to cross the SEQ coast in 50 years and predicted to be as bad as the 1954 cyclone that crossed 71 years ago!
I have the pleasure of working a few days a week as a senior horticulturist at Brisbane’s prestigious Brookfield Gardens. The business has been flooded to the roof twice, once in 2011 and then again in 2022. So it was all systems go. In three days, the team packed up the entire garden centre and moved it offsite or to higher ground. A gigantic effort!
Personally, I’m in the west of Brisbane and on the top of a hill but we still may experience seepage issues if the forecast 700mm+ rain shows up and of course then there’s the wind.
What I’ve done to prepare:
- Moved or laid down all possible projectiles from around the yard.
- Pushed verandah pots up close against the house.
- Taken down all my verandah hanging mobiles and wall art.
- Lifted items in carport and downstairs room in case of seepage that our pumps can’t handle.
- Cleaned out gutters.
- Pruned overhanging trees.
- Native bees are on standby to be moved to safety.
- Chook house (which is extremely sturdy) has new absorbent bedding so I can cram my ducks and geese in there for the worst of it.
See you on the other side folks.
